Molded articles for vehicles

Abstract

Molded articles ( 10, 10 ′) are designed to be received within a space (S) between a window frame ( 2 ) of a vehicle body panel ( 1 ) and a window panel ( 7 ) attached thereto. The molded articles may include a molding body ( 11 ) arranged and constructed to partially contact the window panel when the molded article is received within the space. The molded article further may include an elastic lip ( 30 ) continuously extending from the molding body and arranged and constructed to partially elastically contact the window frame and to elastically deform when the molded article is received within the space. Moreover, a connecting strip ( 31 ) may continuously extend between the elastic lip and the molding body. The connecting strip is preferably arranged and constructed to apply a force to a portion of the molding body when the elastic lip is elastically deformed.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A molded article arranged and constructed to be received within a space between a window frame of a vehicle body panel and a window panel having a chamfered portion formed within its edge surface, the window frame having a side wall and a bottom wall, comprising: 
       a molding body having a head portion, a leg portion extending from the head portion and an engagement portion,  
       wherein the head portion, the leg portion and the engagement portion are arranged and constructed to partially contact the window panel when the molded article is received within the space,  
       wherein the head portion comprises a first portion arranged and constructed to correspond to the chamfered portion of the window panel when the molded article is received within the space so that an outer surface of the head portion is substantially flush with an outer surface of the window panel,  
       wherein the head portion comprises a second portion arranged and constructed to project towards the side wall when the molded article is received within the space so as to be retained in the space without contacting the side wall,  
       wherein the leg portion is arranged and constructed to extend from an inner side of the head portion toward the bottom wall along the edge surface of the window panel when the molded article is received within the space, and  
       wherein the engagement portion is arranged and constructed to extend from the leg portion in a direction opposite to the second portion of the head portion along an inner surface of the window panel when the molded article is received within the space,  
       an elastic lip continuously extending from the molding body and arranged and constructed to partially elastically contact the window frame and to elastically deform when the molded article is received within the space, and  
       a connecting strip continuously extending from the elastic lip, the connecting strip being integral and continuous with the head portion, wherein the connecting strip is arranged and constructed to upwardly the head force to a portion when the elastic lip is elastically deformed, so that the first portion is pressed against the chamfered portion of the window panel.  
     
     
       2. A molded article as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the molding body is made from a first resinous material and the elastic lip and the connecting strip are made from a second resinous material, the first resinous material being different from the second resinous material. 
     
     
       3. A molded article as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first resinous material has a greater hardness than the second resinous material. 
     
     
       4. A molded article as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes a convexly curved ornamental surface that comprises a first curved surface and a second curved surface, the second curved surface having a radius of a curvature smaller than the first curved surface. 
     
     
       5. A molded article as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising an ornamental film disposed on the ornamental surface, wherein the ornamental film comprises a metallic glossy film. 
     
     
       6. A molded article as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion extends from the leg portion and includes a retainer surface that is arranged and constructed to be substantially parallel to the inner surface of the window panel. 
     
     
       7. A molded article as defined in  claim 6 , wherein an adhesive layer is interleaved between at least one of (1) a peripheral edge surface of the window panel and the leg portion and (2) the inner surface of the window panel and the retainer surface of the engagement portion. 
     
     
       8. A molded article as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion continuously extends from a terminal end of the leg portion in a bent-over shape and includes a retainer surface that is arranged and constructed to engage the peripheral edge of the window panel. 
     
     
       9. A window panel unit comprising a window panel and a molded article that is attached to a peripheral edge of the window panel, the molded article being arranged and constructed to be received within a space defined between a window frame of a vehicle body panel and the window panel having a chamfered portion formed within its edge surface, the window frame having a side wall and a bottom wall, the molded article comprising: 
       a molding body having a head portion, a leg portion extending from the head portion and an engagement portion,  
       wherein the head portion, the leg portion and the engagement portion are arranged and constructed to partially contact the window panel when the molded article is received within the space,  
       wherein the head portion comprises a first portion arranged and constructed to correspond to the chamfered portion of the window panel when the molded article is received within the space so that an outer surface of the head portion is substantially flush with an outer surface of the window panel,  
       wherein the head portion comprises a second portion arranged and constructed to project towards the side wall when the molded article is received within the space so as to be retained in the space without contacting the side wall,  
       wherein the leg portion is arranged and constructed to extend from an inner side of the head portion toward the bottom wall alone the edge surface of the window panel when the molded article is received within the space, and  
       wherein the engagement portion is arranged and constructed to extend from the leg portion in a direction opposite to the second portion of the head portion along an inner surface of the window panel when the molded article is received within the space,  
       an elastic lip continuously extending from the molding body and arranged and constructed to partially elastically contact the window frame and to elastically deform when the molded article is received within the space, and  
       a connecting strip continuously extending from the elastic lip, the connecting strip being integral and continuous with the head portion, wherein the connecting strip is arranged and constructed to upwardly force the head position when the elastic lip is elastically deformed so that the first portion is pressed against the chamfered portion of the window panel.  
     
     
       10. A window panel unit as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the engagement portion extends from the leg portion and includes a retainer surface that is arranged and constructed to be substantially parallel to the inner surface of the window panel, and wherein an adhesive layer is interleaved between at least one of (1) a peripheral edge surface of the window panel and the leg portion and (2) the inner surface of the window panel and the retainer surface of the engagement portion. 
     
     
       11. A window panel unit as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the molded article is attached to a peripheral edge of the window panel around a substantial portion of a perimeter of the window panel that includes a corner portion of the window panel.